Draft rigging



Oct. 10, 1933. D. s. BARROWS DRAFT RIGGING Filed March '24 1927 2 Sheecs-Sheeil l Oct. l0, 1933. D. s. BARRows DRAFT RIGGING Filed March 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnvem for,

Patented Got. 10, 1933 DRAFT RIGGING Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to The Symington Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application March 24, 1927. Serial No. 178,098

'2f' Claims.

This invention relates to draft rigging for railway cars and, more particularly, to such in which means is provided for permitting horizontal angling of the coupler with respect to associated draft gear.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the provision of means in a draft rigging for pivotally connecting the butt of a coupler with respect to an associated draft gear, said connection preferably involving a swivel block which is adapted alternatively for use with Farlow attachments or with the tail bolt of a simple form of spring cushioning mechanism.

An object of the invention is to provide an articulated or pivoted connection between a coupler and a yoke or tail bolt of associated draft gear in which the connecting means involves a swivel block adapted either for connection with a horizontal key and associated Farlow attachments or with a tail bolt or central draft gear member of associated` cushioning mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pivotal connection between the coupler and yoke, or other member connecting said coupler to associated mechanism, said connection involving a pivot pin and means for locking said pin in place and preventing undesired removal or loss thereof.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a swivel butt coupler particularly adapted for use on light cars such as are found on foreign railways whether said cars have the original simple spring cushioning mechanism using a central tail bolt for connection with the coupler or 35 whether they have been converted for use with Farlow attachments or such involving a horizontal yoke, draft keys, followers and associated cushioning mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and combination of the various parts will `become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is donned by the appended claims:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, of the underframe of a car with associated draft rigging embodying my invention.

on the line 2 2 of Figure 1 looking in the direc- Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional viewl 4 4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the center sills 1 of the underfrarne shown are connected by cover plates 2 and 3 and end sills 4 at the ends thereof, only one end of the car being illustrated. The mode of connection between the end sills and center sills involves angular connecting means 5 and the end sill 4 is formed with an aperture 6 adapted to receive the stem of an associated coupier 7. At that portion, where the couplenreceiving aperture 6 is provided, the end sill 4 is 70 preferably reinforced by an angular member 8 to which is connected a coupler supportingmember 9, as illustrated particularly in Figure 2. Centering means lo for the coupler, partially il-l lustrated in Figure l, may be provided, if desired.

rlhe coupler illustrated is of the swivel butt type, the butt portion thereof comprising an auxiliary member l1 pivotally connected to the rear end of the coupler 7 by means of an upright pivot pin 12. .Said pivot pin is of suflicient size to transmit all the draft forces which may be applied to the coupler, said pivot pin, however, being relieved of buffing forces from the coupler'on account of the construction of the rear end of the coupler and the associated swivel block member 11.

The means for transmitting draft forces between the coupler and associated cushioning mechanism involves a horizontal yoke 13, said yoke, if designed for use with Farlow attachments, being formed with a pair of forwardly extending arms, each of said arms being provided with a forward slot 14 and a rearward slot l5. For connecting the coupler, and particularly the swivel block portion l1 thereof, to the yoke, a 95 horizontal key 16 is provided extending through a slot 17 formed partially in the rear end of the coupler stem and partially inthe forward portion of the swivel block, said slot being preferably so positioned that the pivot pin 12 is neces- 100 sarily provided with a corresponding slotted side which engages the rear edge of the key 16, whereby said pin is held in place after assembly. Additional means, for locking the pin 12 in`place and preventing loss of the parts thereof should breakage occur at the reduced section adjacent the slotted sides, may involve preferably flat keys 18 extending through correspondingly apertured lugs 19 on the top and bottom of the swivel block 11, The ends of the pivot pin` 12 110 are preferably notched as indicated at 20 where the keys 18 engage therewith, whereby turning of said pin 12 is prevented so that the same is, at all times, properly disposed with respect to the associated draft key 16. The notches in the ends of the pin are preferably offset from the axis thereof, with the pin on one side only extended so that its ends are substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the keys 13. After insertion in place, the ends of the keys 18 are are preferably bent away from the swivel block, whereby loss or undesired removal thereof is prevented.

In the present embodiment, the coupler '7 is formed with a pair of rearwardly extending substantially horizontal flange or web portions 21 and 22, said portions being provided with curved rear faces preferably coaxial with the pivot pin 12. The swivel block ll is likewise provided with forwardly extending flange or web portions 23, 24 and 25 which preferably closely interengage the web portions 21 and 22 of the coupler and are provided with pockets 26 and 27 therebetween for operatively engaging the flanges or webs 21' and 22 of the coupler. These pockets 26 and 27 are formed with bearing surfaces substantially coaxial with the pivot pin 12 so that they serve as bearing faces for pivotal engagement with the web portions 21 and 22 on the coupler. The central web 24, which is bifuroated by the slot 17, is likewise provided with coaxial edge portions cooperating with corresponding curved flanges 23 and 29 on the coupler. On ac- -count of this construction, the swivel block l1 snugly embraces the rear end of the coupler and, although horizontal angling therebetween is freely permitted, the parts are otherwise securely connected together.

The draft key 1S, not only serves to connect the coupler and, more particularly, the swivel block portion 11 thereof to the yoke 13, but also extends through correspondingly slotted portions 30 in the draft sills or in cheek plates 31 thereon, thereby supporting the rear end of the coupler and the front end of the yoke, as will be understood. The rear end of the yoke 13 may be supported by angular bracket members 32, the vertical flanges of which are suitably connected to the sills 1 and the horizontal flanges 33 of which extend beneath the arms of the yoke. The associated cushioning mechanism 34, indicated diagrammatically by dot and dash lines, is ernbraced between the arms and rear connecting portion of the yoke 13 and the front follower 35 and supported by means of a carry iron 36. The ends of said carry iron are preferably connected to the lower iianges of the center sills by means of bolts and nuts or other suitable connecting means 37. A corresponding upper stop member 38 may be provided between the draft sills 1 over the cushioning mechanism 34. A rear follower 39 may be employed between the rear end of the cushioning mechanism 34 and the yoke, the rear end of said yoke being adapted to abut a backstop 40 extending between the center sills l.

The front follower 35 is preferably supported and connected to the draft sills by means of a horizontal key 41, said key extending through a slot 42 therein and corresponding slots 43 in the cheek plate 31. as well as through the slots 15 in the yoke. The front end of the follower 35 is preferably formed with a lug 44 normally engaging in a corresponding pocket 45 in the swivel i block 11, thereby centering said swivel block and the rear end of the coupler. If the car, on which the aforedescribed draft rigging is employed, uses platform buffers, the stems thereof may be held in proper position by association with an equalizer member 46 pivotally mounted on the coupler stem by means of a bolt or other connecting member 47. For permitting the arms of the equalizer 46 to extend outwardly beyond the sills, said sills are preferably notched as indicated at 43. Although only one end of the equalizer' member 46 is illustrated, it is obvious that the same is preferably symmetrical and provided with portions extending both ways from the associated coupler.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a coupler 'fr is employed and said coupler may, if desired, be identical with the coupler of the :First embodiment. The rear end of said coupler is likewise pivotally connected to a swivel block 11ai by means of a bolt 12L and said bolt may be retained in position and prevented from undesired loss or removal in a manner corresponding to that of the first embodiment or by provision of a head 49 at one end and a castle nut 50 threadably connected to the other end and locked in position by means of a cotter of usual form, as will be understood. The present embodiment is particularly designed for use with a simple form of draft gear in which the cushioning member or resilient element thereof involves merely a spring or springs 5l. Said spring device 51 may have extending therethrough an ordinary form of tail bolt 52 which preferably extends longitudinally through an aperture in the rear wall of the swivel block 11a, with the head thereof engaging the adjacent edge of said wall, through a front follower 359, the spring device 51, the rear follower 39a and nally the nut 53, said nut being locked in position in any desired manner as by means of a cotter 54. The followers 35L and 39L are each preferably provided with peripheral flanges 55 and 56, respectively, engaging the inner sides of the transverse walls 57 of a casing or frame 58 for the cushioning mechanism, the side walls of said casing being connected to the associated sills la by rivets or other suitable securing means 59.

From the foregoing description of my swivel butt coupler and the connection between the same and associated draft rigging, it will be apparent that, when draft forces are applied to said coupler when used as in the first embodiment, said forces are first transmitted from the rear end of the coupler to the pivot pin 12, swivel block 11, draft key 16 and, from there, through the yoke 13, rear follower 39, cushioning mechanism 34, front follower 35 and key 41 to the cheek plates 31 and sills l of the car. In the second embodiment, the draft forces are transmitted directly from the rear end of the coupler 7CL through the pivot pin 12a, swivel block 1li, tail bolt 52, nut 53, rear follower 39E, spring 5l, front follower 35a, and casing 58 to the sills 1fL of the car.

Upon the application of buil'ing forces, the transmission thereof is muchsimpler, such forces passing directly from the rear end of the coupler '7 through the swivel block 11, front follower 35, cushioning mechanism 34, rear follower 39, and rear end of the yoke 13 to the backstop 40 and sills l of the car. A similar transmission of force occurs in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, such bufiing force passing from the rear end of the coupler 'I roo ist

through the swivel block 11a, front follower 35a, spring 51, and rear follower 39a to the casing 58 and sills 1iL of the car. It will be apparent that, in either of the embodiments, angling of the coupler with respect to the associated mechanism is freely permitted while, at the same time, said coupler is securely connected with respect thereto.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. In a draft rigging, in combination, a coupler, a swivel block associated with the rear end thereof, a pivot pin extending through associated portions of said coupler and swivel block and means for preventing loss and turning of said pin comprising lugs on top and bottom of said swivel block on opposite sides of said pin and keys extending through registering slots in said lugs and engaging notches formed in the ends of said pin, said pin being extended beyond the notches to approximately the outer surfaces of said keys.

2. In a draft rigging, in combination, a coupler, spaced web portions extending from the rear end of said coupler, a swivel block, said block being provided with forwardly extending webs adapted to be interspacedwith the webs on the rear end of the coupler, an intermediate web of said swivel block and the adjacent portion of said coupier being slotted for the reception of a draft key, and a pivot pin extending throughregistering apertures in said webs for pivotally connecting the parts, said pin being provided with a corresponding slotted edge for receiving the draft key, said pin being prevented from loss in case of breakage and from turning by having the ends thereof formed with notches offset from the axis thereof and engaged by keys extending above and below said swivel block in said notches, the ends of said keys being secured to said swivel block by passing through apertured lug portions thereon, and the ends of said pin being extended so as to be substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the keys. Y

3. In a draft rigging, in combination with a yoke, a two-part coupler stem, one of said parts comprising the main portion of the coupler and the other comprising a swivel block portion, means for pivotally connecting said parts, the lower end of said means being notched at a side, the lower portion of said swivel block being formed with depending lugs on opposite sides of the notched portion of said pivotal means, and a locking member extending through apertures in said lugs and engaging the notched portion of said pivotal means for preventing loss thereof.

4. In a draft rigging, a coupler with a stern, webs extending rearwardly from the stem of said coupler, a swivel block portion formed with corresponding webs intercalated with the webs of the stem of the coupler, a pivot pin extending through registering apertures in the webs of said coupler stem and swivel block, the upper end of said pin being formed with a notch offset from the axis thereof, the upper web of said swivel block being formed with lugs on opposite sides of the notched portion of said pin, means supportingly engaging the lower end of said pin, and means extending through registering apertures in said lugs and engaging the notched portion of the pin for locking the same in place.

5. In railway draft rigging, in combination with a yoke, a two-part coupler stem, one of the parts of said stem comprising the coupler shank and the other comprising an intercalated swivel butt portion, an upright pin extending the full height of the intercalated portions of said parts for pivotally connecting the same, a key intersecting said pivoted parts of the coupler, extending through a central notch in the pin and said yoke for transmitting draft forces from said coupler to said yoke, said pin'being of generally uniform section throughout its length except where it is notched to receive the key, the upper and lower portions of said pin being notched substantially iiush with the upper and lower surfaces of said swivel butt, with portions extending beyond said surfaces, said swivel butt having apertured lugs extending from the upper and lower faces thereof on either side of the ends of said pin, and retaining means extending through the apertures in said lugs and with surfaces substantially iiush with the corresponding surfaces of the swivel block engaging the notched ends of said pin for holding said pin in place independently of the key.

6. In railway draft rigging, in combination with a coupler stem, a swivel block associated with said stem, a normally upright pin intersecting said block and the rear portion of said stem for pivotally connecting the same, said pin extending the full height of said swivel block and formed with notches at its ends offset from the axis thereof, the upper and lower portions of said swivel block being formed respectively with upstanding and depending lugs disposed on opposite sides of the notched portions of said pin, and means extending through apertures in said lugs and received in the notched portions of said pin for limiting movement thereof.

7. In railway draft rigging, in combination with a coupler having a stem, a member disposed rearwardly thereof, a normally upright pin intersecting said stem and the rearwardly disposed member for pivotally connecting the same, a key intersecting said stem and member for holding the same in operative position, means on said member above said pin for limiting upward movement thereof, the lower end of said pin having a notch at a side thereof, the lower portion of said member having lugs depending therefrom and disposed on opposite sides of the notched portion of said pin, and locking means extending through said lugs and received in the notch in said pin for limiting downward movement of the latter.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

